What love is?

A soldier, wearied and tired was returning home from a distant town after the war. He called home.

His mother who was anxiously waiting for his return was happy to hear her son was alive. While she welcomed him home, he interrupted and asked “Mum, I’m bringing my friend along with me. Could he stay with us?” The mother joyfully welcomed the proposal. The son continued, “But mum I just like to let you know that this friend of mine has lost both legs in the war and we will have to assist him around.” The mother replied “Son, it is going to be very difficult taking care of him. You know what a tough time it will be for us”. The son never returned home at all. It was he who had lost his legs. He had no friend with him.

He felt he would be a burden if he returned home. He never felt he would receive that love at home. True love requires great courage and a spirit of sacrifice. Jesus symbolically presenting himself as a Good shepherd expresses the extent of what love is, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11). He says, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13).

Saint Paul explains the abundance of God’s love for each of us saying “God has poured out his love into our hearts”. When we don’t become conscious of that love, we tend to become unloving or less prone to love and care for others. A man was hanging an announcement on a tree announcing the sale of seven puppies. A little boy watching him asked him, how much a puppy would cost. Looking at the appearance of the boy, the man said “I don’t think you can afford to buy a puppy. Each one costs two thousand rupees. Do you have that money?” The boy’s countenance fell.

He looked at the man in great disappointment while tears rolled down his cheeks. “Sir, I just have a few coins with me. Can I at least look at them with this money?” The man hesitated and rolled open up the kennel calling the puppies one by one, by name. Out came the cute looking puppies like little balls of cotton. But the seventh puppy did not come out. The man called again, and there came the puppy limping, physically challenged dragging itself towards the man.

The boy picked up the puppy, kissed it ignoring the other six puppies. The man curiously asked the boy why he was interested only in this puppy.

The boy lifting his pants gently and showed the man his artificial legs saying “Only this puppy can understand my pain and I can understand his pain”. Deeply touched by the boys words, offered him the puppy for free.

Fr.Adolf Washington is a priest belonging to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bangalore.
Currently the Parish priest of Our Lady of Fathima Church, Jalahalli in Bangalore. Fr. Adolf is also the President, of the Prestigious Indian Catholic Press Association(ICPA) and has penned numerous articles and books on varied topics.
Few of his the other portfolio’s Fr.Adolf holds includes:
Chief Editor and Managing Director SAR News.

2 Responses to "What love is?"

fr. Adolf, I am very happy to read your very inspiring article on what love is?. I am reminded of your sermons and reflections in St. Peter’s . Keep it up. Continue to inspire people to invent God’s love in their life.

Love it was that made us – Love it was that saved us – Love was GODs plan when He made man – GODs divine nature is Love – No love there is no GOD, it is as simple as that- thank GOD for your lovely article Fr. Adolf – in CHRIST JESUS. Love is supereme – the BIBLE says you can have healing power, speaking in tounges, preaching etc., etc., but if you do not have love you are nothing.
John 3:16
For GOD so loved the world that He gave is only Son – who-so-ever believeth in Him shall have eternal Life. Amen, hallelujah